Lexie is on track to become the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, earning a Guinness World Record
Today, I welcome Lexie Alford, the youngest person who has appeared on Counting Countries. She just turned 20 years old. She has already visited 140 countries. She is on track to be the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, sometime next year. Her goal is to visit every country in the world before she turns 21. If so, she will claim the GWR.
On previous episodes of Counting Countries, I have interviewed James Asquith the youngest person to travel every country in the world as well as the former record holder, Maurizio Giuliani. I also interviewed Eric Nguyen last year, who finished 193 and is applying to GWR, to claim James’s GWR.
The superlatives of travel have seemed to have taken on a life of their own in the travel world, with Cassie De Pecol claiming to be the first documented woman to travel to every country in the world. I interviewed Taylor Demonbreun last episode, who is also on track to be the fastest and youngest. And Lexie, is on track to be the youngest the following year.
Many in the travel community have taken umbrage with these goal chasers. Lexie shares with us her thoughts, and her response to the critics.
Lexie shares with us her recent trip to Yemen with travel legend Gunnar Garfors, getting detained by the police in Rome, why she loves Switzerland, and why she is not fond of Paraguay.
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But for now, here’s my conversation with Lexie, who joined me from California while I was in Bangkok, the city of angels.
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Check out our friends: Chasing 193, Volume II: The Quest To Visit Every Country In The World and Large Minority. They organize international rallies around the world including: Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines and the Amazon.
More about Lexie:
- Born in: Nevada City, California
- Passports from: US Passport
- Favorite travel book: On the Road by Jack Kerouac
- Favorite travel film: Samsara
- Favorite app: Passporter app (coming soon)
- Favorite food: Moroccan Couscous
- Favorite drink: Freddo Cappuccino (Greece)
- Favorite airline: Delta
- Favorite hotel: Berggasthaus Äscher (Cliff Hanging Hostel in the Swiss Alps)
- Website: Living Lost
- Facebook: Lexie Alford
- Instagram: Lost Lexie
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About Counting Countries
Counting Countries is the only podcast to bring you the stories from the dedicated few who’ve spent their lives on the singular quest of traveling to every country in the world. Less people have traveled to every country in the world than have been to outer space.
Theme music for this podcast is Demeter’s Dance, written, performed, and provided by Mundi.
About GlobalGaz
Ric Gazarian is the host of Counting Countries. He is the author of three books: Hit The Road: India, 7000 KM To Go, and Photos From Chernobyl. He is the producer of two travel documentaries: Hit The Road: India and Hit The Road: Cambodia.
Ric is also on his own quest to visit every country in the world. You can see where he has traveled so far and keep up with his journey at GlobalGaz.com
How Many Countries Are There?
Well… that depends on who you ask!
- The United Nations states that there are 193 member states.
- The British Foreign and Commonwealth office states that there are 226 countries and territories.
- The Century Club states that there are 327 sovereign nations, territories, enclaves, and islands.
- The Most Traveled Person states that there are 875 unique parts of the world.
- The Nomad Mania states that there are 1281 unique places in the world.
- SISO says there are 3,978 places in the world.
- Me? My goal is the 193 countries that are recognized by the UN, but I am sure I will visit some other places along the way.
An analysis of these lists and who is the best traveled by Kolja Spori.
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Explore the unique stories from 20 more world-class travelers from various backgrounds and nations and from all walks of life who have tirelessly pursued visiting every country in the world and have filled their lives with a virtually endless amount of adventure.
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Her Aden trip is a definite ‘notch on the belt’.
Had to smile about the Rome drone story too:-).
Both were very good stories 🙂
Amazing pictures and content. Good one information.
Haters gonna hate, I know, but she has not visited all countries. I do agree that you can visit a country in one day and there are even a few countries where that is sufficient. However she has multiple countries where she has not left the airport. Also she has not been in North Korea. Being in DMZ does not count.
There is an newer (2nd) interview w Lexie after she completed her quest. We discussed the “technical” visits to Syria and N Korea. Her quest is in the eye of the beholder, so everyone is entitled to their opinion. She explains she followed the requirements of GWR and met them, hence, she has been to every country.
I don’t get it why she’s not fond to Paraguay?
Eye of the beholder … have you been?